Implementation of Integrated Watershed Management Practices for the Pantanal and Upper Paraguay River Basin

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Global Environmental Facility
United Nations Environmental Programme
Implementation of Integrated Watershed Management
Practices for the Pantanal and Upper Paraguay
River Basin Project Overview
Organization of American States Unit for
Sustainable Development and Environment
Agência Nacional de Água Ministerio do Meio
Ambiente dos Recursos Hidricos e da Amazonia
Legal do Brasil
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Physical Background
The Upper Paraguay River Basin is a 496,000 km2
transboundary river basin shared by Brazil,
Bolivia, and Paraguay.
The Basin is one of the main components of the
Plata Basin System, which drains almost 20
percent of the South American continent.
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Upper Paraguay River Basin in Brazil

• 396,000km2 of UPRB are located in the States of
  Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
• Two interdependent ecosystems upper sub-basin
  (or Rim) (256,000km2) and lower sub-basin (or
  Pantanal) (140,000km2)

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The Upper Paraguay River Basin comprises two
areas with significantly different water and
natural resources conditions

• Planalto
• Rainfall exceeds 1,400mm/per year
• Definite seasonality
• Land surface used mainly for agriculture

• Pantanal
• Worlds largest freshwater wetland
• Seasonal flooding (November-March)
• Meander cut-off, stream captures, displacement of
  outfalls

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Natural Resources

• Rich and unique terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
  230 species of fish, 80 species of mammals, 81 of
  reptiles, and 650 species of birds contribute to
  the biological diversity of this large waterland

• Extensive diversity of highland and lowland
  forests and different kinds of Savanna (cerrado)

• Rich mineral resources including iron, manganese,
  copper, gold, limestone, etc. with good potential
  for exploitation.

• Rich natural resources including lands suitable
  for agricultural and pastoral development

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Socioeconomic Background

• Sparse human population, with density of 2.2
  hab/km2 in Mato Grosso do Sul and 2.5 hab/km2 in
  Mato Grosso,

• Agriculture and livestock production, tourism and
  mining,

• Expansion of the agricultural frontier in the
  upper sub-basin mechanized production of
  soybeans and rice,

• Paraguay-Paraná Waterway Project (Hidrovia).

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Environmental Problem Areas

• Wetlands Declining species diversity among
  terrestrial flora, diminishing number and
  diversity of animals
• Land Degradation soil erosion estimated at 300
  tons/km2/year in the upper sub-basin draining of
  wetlands, industrial farming, introduction of
  exotic species, mining activities

• Water Quality contamination of surface and
  ground waters

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Environmental Problem Areas

• Environmental Education
• Institutionslack of appropriate laws and
  regulatory regimes for environmental control and
  ineffective management
• Human Resources lack of institutional capacity
• Stakeholder Involvement lack of appropriate
  forums for encouraging participation

• Fisheries contamination, overharvesting, changes
  in species composition
• Hydrology and flooding flooding and channel
  movement
• Urbanization and industrialization surface or
  open cast mining, residential area encroachment,
  export processing zones etc
• Economic Development unregulated exploitation of
  lands and natural resources.

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Project Background

• Plan for the Integrated Development of the Upper
  Paraguay River Basin (EDIBAP). Conducted by the
  Government of Brazil/OAS/UNDP, 1978-1981, the
  Project formulated a series of economic
  development proposals for the Pantanal region,
  based on the principles of environmental
  conservation, ecological balance, and rational
  use of land.

• Upper Paraguay River Basin Conservation Plan
  (PCBAP). Conducted by the Government of
  Brazil/The World Bank, 1991, this plan employed
  an environmental zoning approach to delineate
  general and site-specific guidelines for the
  conservation, rehabilitation and preservation of
  degraded lands created a geographic information
  system and proposed the operation of a real time
  flood warning system designed to prevent negative
  impacts in urban and rural areas.

• Field Mission to the UPRB, the Government of
  Brazil
• invited UNEP, OAS, and the World Bank, 1996

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Project Objectives

• Protect habitat (land and water) and its
  biodiversity against present mismanagement
  actions,
• Diagnose, recommend, and implement measures to
  enhance public environmental awareness,
• Promote sustainable economic activities to
  replace present non-sustainable practices,
• Provide tools to strengthen and support
  institutions, train professionals, and educate
  community at large,
• Develop and implement an Integrated Water
  Management Program.

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Project Components

• Water Quality and Environmental Protection
• Conservation of the Pantanal
• Land Degradation
• Stakeholder Involvement and Sustainable
  Development
• Organizational Structure Development
• Integrated Watershed Management Program
  Implementation

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Expected Key Results

• Improved environmental functioning of the Upper
  Paraguay River system through preservation and
  protection of the river system and the Pantanal

• Improved Public awareness, stakeholder
  participation, and organizational development

• Improved individual capacities for economically
  sustainable development and environmental
  protection, conservation, and management.